Road indicator



April 8,1930- T. J. sMULsKll 1,753,758

ROAD INDICATOR Filed 00j, 11, 1920 5 Sheets--Sheel l u (mlm :lulllllllll T. J. SMULSKI ROAD INDICATOR April 8, 1930.

Filed Oct. 11. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet T. J, SMULSKI Apnl s, 1930.

ROAD INDICATOR 5 sheets-sheet s Filed Oct. 11, 1920 April 8, 1930. T. J. sMuLsKl 1,753,758

ROAD INDICATOR Filed Oct. 11. 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A 4a J4\ 34 35 35 Patented Apr. 8K, 1930 Stmas miem ement.

' ,THEGDORELSMULSKLFOFCHICAGQ IizLiNois,` ASSIGNOR' TOTHE MILEOMTER'YCOMS PANY,'0F 0H1eAeo,'1LL1No1s, A CORPORATION -eFLLINoIsf Y ROAD INDICATOR s Appiic'atibn med october 11, 1920. semi No. 416,187.

My invention v'belligs t that-general class' O f'de'vices employed" :fr indicetiiigv routes', measuring {andiindifating speeds? and distances' covered by vehicles, and relatespar- 'ticulafrly'to a device adapted for-use cn autok mobiles or like vehicles,` fr indic'aijfiiig e defiH nite"coursel oi=-"t`ravel;r as -Well as :indicating .the `rate 'of 'speed' of 'the' vehicle andthe distance traveledil The inventienlias among its labjects'tlie prod'ctienf of al'de'vice ofthe kind described' that? is simple, convenient, compact; clu1a`ble,f reliable,A accurate 1 and attractive, eiie'ient end'fsatis'factory forv use Wherever" fun'd" lapplicable.' More particu# a device oftlieliiid described-Which not nly opere-tes eccurte'ly, butin which the various' parts maybefadjiistedfin el'sim'pleiand reli able-l ma' mier.,y whereby" the machine Y always indicates accurately 'regardle'ssef'road or vehicle conditions. Varioiis` other improvements, objects-end edvalntege'slw'illl-be 0bvious t0 these skilled inthe art-from thev disclosure herein given; 25'v i' novel'f-ccnst-ructien, arrangement and combination of parts herein' .shown and described;i particularly pointedV out! 1n '-tl'ie" `and more claims. l 30 l In the drawings.whereinFlikereference characters v indicate like" or "crrespndingparte,

device tially 'on liiie 2 2 Of VFig.l `l"turned`tlireugh an'angle @i180 degrees;

tially on liii'e"3 3 of Fig. 9i 1 s d.

Fig. i is a sectional.viewtai'lr` Ii' siibstii# tizilly on line 4 4701? Eig. 7 v

Fig. 5 is a sectional view teken substantia-.ily Online 5 5 of Fig...l2;. 4 6 'isuzt sectional vievvl teken substan tially on 1ine6 6fof-'Fig.4;. 1 Y I' Fig.' 7 is' a sectional viewtekensubstantialljv on line 7 7 of ligl tiirned-tlirougheniangle 0f 90"' degrees ;Y Y e Fig. 8 lise sectional viewi taken' substan- To` this end my 'iiiventieniYcensists'intley j on en Fig. 2 is a sectional*'vievflttiken sufbstanf tia-lly on line 8 8'0f l turned throughan angle (3f-90 degrees;

Fig. 9 is'` a sectional vieWtaken/substan' tiailly on line 9 9 Of Fig-1; y i Fig. l0 is a sectional view tekensubstani tia'lly oii lineklO-lO'of Fig. 9;`v`

, previde"acarsingiofsiiitgtble'size. shape and y E ig.'l1 is 'a Vsectional view taken'subista'rimaterialconsisting'of the casing"part-1'jp'ixi-V vid with theflcov'er parte i01 'ffice' vplates 2 37 'is .preferblyjliinged to tliecasinggas will@ clearly I inrlFig.vr 1,1tliespeede'rieter and 0Clometer mechanism* is". displayed. through a'nopemngj in the cver' '1plete"2, the' opening "being j )referably covered glass onf the* Eiriliesitoi"fWheels.referr'ed' tof The etitirigTendfgiiiding*meansv is" dis-- tween-jor .adj eceiitf the plates/16 and'y i7; each' liavqiggthe sides flnge'des indicated' at 15," l8-bein-geiplete farrenged betvveei' the ca'sig andl the 'flanges l5 and connecting Vvthem 't0'- getliergias-fshown. f l Arreigefd"7 Within 1the ca'sJ member 19 provided with worm gear 20, the shaft member having an extended end 21 proj ecting into the tubular part 14 and arranged to be attached to a flexible drive shaft or the equivalent, preferably connected witli one of the wheels or yother moving parts of the vehicle, (not shown). As shown, antifriction or ball bearings 22 are arranged acent one end of the shaft, 23 being a bearing member arranged in the tubular part 14, which may be locked in place by a lock member 24 or the equivalent. The opposite end 25 of the shaft 19 is preferably enlarged as shown in Fig. 12, and is tubular, and the same carries a bearing member V26 arranged to cooperate with the ball bearings 27, or their equivalent, arranged between member 26 and plate 28, which in the construction shown, is carried by a plate 29. supported by the frame members 16 and 17.

Arranged on the shaft, as shown, on the enlarged portion 25 thereof, is a governor member 32, which is carried by the studs or pins 33. As shown, the studs engage bearing members 34 at each side of the member 32, 35 being lock members or nuts for preventing the accidental loosening of the members 34. Arranged within the tubular part 25 is a movable rod or pin 36, which is preferably enlarged at the lower end at 37 so as to closely lit the tubular portion of the shaft and be carried therein, the same having a bar or arm 38 projecting to the exterior of the shaft and arranged to engage with the ring 32 on engaging member 39 carried by the ring, as shown in Fig. 13. The rod orl pin 36 projects .through the bearing member 26, the same being constructed to slide freely therethrough and engage with the member 42 which, in the construction shown, is carried by the arm 43 pivotally supported by a pin or shaft 43', or the equivalent for the purpose. The pin or supporting member 43 also carries a member 44 which is loosely mounted thereon. Members 44V and 43 are preferably flexibly connected so that vibration of `one'vvill not be transmitted to the other, and in the construction shown they are connected by means of a wire 45,for example pianowire, which is se cured at 46 to the member 44and at 47 to the member 43. The member 44v is provided with a gear sector or segment 48. The indicator wheel 6 previously referred to', is mounted on a shaft or spindle 49,an`d is 'carried by the `flange or plate 50, (see Fig. 13), which in the construction shown is formed on plate y29. Arranged on the end of the spindle orv shaft 49 is a pinion 51 arranged gto mesh with the teeth on the gear sector 48 so that as the member' 44 is raised or lowered, motion istransmitted to the indicator wheel. As most clearly shown in Figs. 5, 12 and 13, there is provided a spring 54, which in the construction shown is attached to the arm or member `43. A leaf spring construction is illustrated, it

shaft increases, the governor member 32 tends to straighten up and extend transversely the shaft, the springs to a slight extent tending to retard its movement, and it is immediately returned as the speed decreases, toward its normal position. As the member straightens. up, as it may be termed, the same cooperating with the arm 38, moves the rodor pin 36,

likewise thereby actuating the arm 43, and

this through the flexible connection mentioned, tends to actuate member 44 and sector 48. and this through the pinion 51 rotates the indicator wheel 6. The speed of the vehicle is indicated by the indicator wheel, the movement of the same depending upon the speed and movement of the governor member 32. Movement ofthe members 43 and 44 is retorded or opposed by the engagement of the spring 54 with the members 57. It will be noted that the members 57 may be adjusted as desired, so that the instrument may be calibrated for substantially the various l speeds, and thereby register accurately at all speeds of the vehicle.-

As before mentioned,1-[ provide the indi-.i

cator wheels 7 constituting a part of the odometer mechanism, which records and inl dicates the total mileage. Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 9, 10 and 11, a shaft 60 is provided (see Fig. :13), which carries a gear 61 arranged to mesh with and be driven by the worm 2O on the shaft 19. Shaft 60 carries la member 62 to which is connected a link 63. As shown in 9, the link 63 is connected at 64 to the disk or member 62, butthe same is arranged eccentric or at one side ofthe shaft y60 so that the disk 62 substantially constitutes a crank, and'as shaft 60 is operated, the same actuates the link 63. pivotally connected at 65'to a link 66, which is supported at 66', as shown, kfrom an vextending part 75 of the frame portion 1Q.

Link 66 is slotted as indicated at 68. There opposite end pivotally secured at 7 2 .to a nut or theequivalent, carried on the threaded rod 73 which projects'tofthe exterior ofthe casing, and is provided with a knurled knob 74 or equivalent means. The link 67 is pivoty ally supported at 71 fromthe link 69. There' are provided two links 8O and 81 which are pivotally secured to the links 66 and 67 at 82,

Link 63 is *A i is also provided a link 69 having one Vend f pivotally secured at .70 to part 7 5,'with the,

partiall7 rotatedy about the axis .170, pinl Si will move inthe slot, and the distance Tof the pin 82 from the pivotal connectionof the link 66 may bervaried asdesired, for'pui`` poses hereinafter described. Thereis also provided a shaft 78, which shaft, in the con` fr struction shown,- is. varranged to controler actuate the odometer'or indicator Wheelsff, as Well as the route guiding means -or thetape. The preferred connectingsvmechanismi between the ,odometer wheels and the tape. mechanism is such'that the rocking back andi 1 mittechthrough,Y the1link 92 tow the .ratchet wheelzQ, causingthelshaft 96 .to beivrotated. sleeve 87, (see Figs. 10 and l1). Carried bjrforth of the link'66 causes these mechanisms to be driven. Mounted on thefshaft 781isa the sleeve are arms 79 and 7 9', which are oper-v` atively connected to the sleeve throughsuitable clutch mechanism, it .being understoodr that an;T clutch mechanism suitable for the purpose may be employed. As shown, meme bers 7 7 are arranged on'the sleeve, thesaine .having rhule flanges f77 extending between the sleeve and thefarms79 and 79". Arm'79 and link 8l are -pivotally secnredtogether atv` 4, and link 80' and arm 79" are fpivotallyf,`

secured togetherat- 84. I have shown'eaeh sleeve 87 and the arms 7 9 andf79.

tain the arms '4'9 and79 in suchfrelatiomwith the members 77 as to keep :the clutchfmembers Fig. 11. As link 8l moves in the directionin dicated by the arrow^I in Fig. 9, thefsa-memoves arm 7 9 inthe directionindicated bv the arrow in Fig. ll, and its..-movementris1 transmitted through the clutch members :to the sleeve 87, causingy that to 'berotated-in i the direction indicated bythe-arrow inFigwf 1l. At the same time link k80 is moved in the mechanisms similar to that described, rotates sleeve 87 in the direction kindicated kbv the arrow in Fig; 11, while arm 7 9 is rocked back inthe Opposite direction Yto that indicated :by the arrow in Fig. 11, but at this time the clutch kis inactive, and its movement isnotf It will beseen'as` the link 66 swings-backend forthQ-wh'en actus: ated by link 63, sleeve l87 isrotated continrn` ously inthe direction indicated by the -arrow transmitted to the sleeve.

shownin Fig. r11.

Connected with the sleeve 87-is a .link92,'i

thefsame:beingisecured to the sleeve'sby alzpinw 1,

.93yoritheequivalent, bntpzat one side 0f :therl centerfof :the -fshaft 'i7 8 so; thatthefsame-is f eccentric therewith, .and :the endiof the -sleevef' lserves as a crank.;A Link92 is arranged atitsz, 70

end-9 to :cooperatewith andactuate a-.ratchet'f wheel 95," mounted: on lshaftf96, .which-.is ar ranged toilactuate the.odometerwheelsmrx indicatorsf. A pawrl97, which: is shown', supported at 9.8;y prevents backward'move# mentfiof the ratchet; wheelpand agspring99z' Y or equivalent means maintains; the fpawl 97 andfthe end: 94rof-l linkf92 iinfenga'gement with the ratchet rWheel. Obviously, as shaft :78T- andfslceve `87' are rotated, motion? is. trans.-y

revolution, thegnextz higher orjadjacent one will'. be ,moved a rstep, for example 1/ 10 of a:

tot.

complete rotation, and-When the :next higher- 1 one,has-made-aycompleterotation, itwillhave l moved the.. ner-t adj acont for higher: one up one stepfetd I .have not' illustrated; trip. of the arms `provided -with notches 88,,an`darranged 4clutch members 89 betweenthe- There are also provided springs 85 orthe equivalent, which are secured as atv to theirrespectifve disks. The purpose ofthe springsis: to mainindie ator: wheelsraswa part o .ofvthexodometer mechanism, .abut v additionalfodometer or vindi-iy cater. wheels similar tc vwmayfloe a'ddedi andl operatively; connectedwiththe. lslraft 96": or associated mechanism.r

However, in fmy 'pre1' ferred construction,- the In'ileom'eter tapey havin gzvthemilea-geor the trip delineated there; :ongfserves-as a trip;odometer;` 89 sulostantially'in thepositionsindicated in As was; before mentioned, :there islprovided a tape-9fandfonfthis tape is delineated theV where turns are to be madef,xwhere`caution isV to-heexcrclsed, where-:bridgesand railroads are`V tobe crossed, Vwhere*garage pand'fhotel accommodations mayV be obtained;V asjwell as i poi-nts; of v:interest :alongfvthe road, 'and suchf1 other mattermay be:t desiredtobewbroughtif to the attentionoftheautomobilistior vehicle?? occupant-vas thefvehic'leprogresses, the *tape-F being-` advanced so: that it is atallttimesebew fore ftherlriver with specific' directions coverr-v ing his. trip. The tape, as before inentionedgl is dislayedin backof then-lass--coverjplateriSy.

which keeps the dust out andvproteetsmhezj Before'describing the variousamecharf nisms for -controllingrfthez tape,` itamay'be mention-edv that V.the I' tape f isY preferably proef vided on yaV spool `and iswoundfromone spool,VT to another, :and vmay l have theareturrrz trip also shown on thesame so-thatby shifting-,the 5' Vmecha-nismit rmaybe fed backinzthe'oppo# site direction forithereturn trips. This,^how -f ever, depends upon lthe :particular tape: used, i.

and which endl of theitape is atftheouterfacef of the; spool, the mechanismrbeingadaptedto s actuate the tape in either direction, and on to The Y. tape-feeding Y or from either spool. mechanism, 'as before mentioned, is driven from the shaft 78. Referring particularly to Figs.2, 8, 4, 6, 7 and 8, there is provided a frame'104, 104'., 100 and 111 mounted on frame part. 141, which frame carries the tapefeeding mechanism. Carried by this frame are theitwo ktubular shafts.105 upon which aremounted gears 101 and102 arranged to meshgwi'th the pinion 108, carried and driven by shaft 78. In` describing the mechanism, I shall describe-the mechanism cooperating with and'driven by gear 102, which is'arranged to drive the tape in one direction, the similar parts of the mechanism for driving the tape in the other direction and driven by the gear 101,.I will designateby the same reference characters primed; Referring particularly to Fig. 7, gear 108 drives gear 101, and this drives gear 102.4 These two gears rotate at all times that the shaft 78 is rotating. Referring to'Fig. 4, gear102 is mounted on the tubular shaft 105, but is connected therewith through a clutch mechanism consisting 4of" parts 106 and 108, preferably flanged as at 106*108, and clutch members 109 substantially similar to that shown in FigsalO and 11 and previously described. In-this case, however, there is no rocking or reciprocation, asgear 102 rotates substantially continuously except, however, it corresnondswith the slightly intermittent yrotation of shaft 78, as was heretofore mentioned.

. yThe clutch arranged is such that when the gear 102 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow as shown in Fig. 7, sleeve 105 is rotated in the same direction. Mounted on the tubular shaft 105 is a gear 112, which ls driven by the shaft 105, and which drives theV {tape-feeding mechanism, as will be hereinafter described. n l Y Asvimost vclearlyfshown in Fig. 4, there is ."provided Va'shaft 107 which extends through the tubular shaft 105, which is provided f with a spool-supporting end 107", which extends-across the machine and carries thespool upon which the tape is wound. The'shaft 107,.however, is frictionally or yieldinglyk driven, and in `theconstruction shown, a spring 118 bearing against the gear' 112 transmits movement to the head 114 andk shaft 107, thereby moving the spool supporting shaft107. While any type of spool for Vcarrying the tape may be employed, that shownicomprisesa central core member 1'17 provided with end plates 118, which are preferably recessed or offset inwardly at thecenter, as shown, so as to provide a support ,for the part 117. *The parts 117 and 118 may be-secured 'together in any suitable manner; in the construction shown, portions 119 of the .part`117 are bent inwardly so as to retain the spool ends in place on the core, forming a( unitary structure. I have illustrated a spool engaging member V116, which is of a size to fit in the recess in theadjacent end I have illustrated a ball 121 arranged in arecess 120 of the shaft ,107, the same being normally maintained in the position shown by a` spring 122. This construction yieldingly locks the spool on spindle 107. VObviously, any equivalent construction may be employed if desired.' Arranged to engage with the gears 112 and 112 are gears 124 and 124', which are mounted on the shafts 125. Arranged to cooperate with either one of these gears at will, or to be out of engagement with both, is the gear 126 which is mounted on the shaft 127. Gear 126 is provided with internal teeth 128, arranged to mesh with the gear 180 on shaft 129, whichI shaft is arranged to drive thefeed roll 151,

as will be hereinafter described. As shown, shaft 129 carries an arm 181, which carriesl the shaft 127. In Fig. 7 the lever 181 is shown in neutral position, so that the gearv 126 is out of engagement with both of thel gears 124 and 124. lVhen the same is moved, for example, as indicated in the dotted lines, gear 126 will engage with the gear 124', which is driven by the gear 112,. As shown, the lever 181'is provided with an extending end formed with the faces 184, 185 and 186. Arranged on the frame is Va lever or arm 187, which is pivotally supported at 188 and p' carries a part 189, arranged to engage with one of the faces mentioned, and maintain the lever 181 1n the desired position. Lever 187 .is controlled by a spring 1140 or equivalent means. As most clearly shown in Fig. 7, the cover plate 8 is provided with a slot 148 through which the lever 181 andgear 126 project. The cover 8 and frame are hinged to the casing at 144 so that the cover may be opened or the mileometer tape-feeding mechanism maybe withdrawnfor example, for changing or removing empty spools or tape. AI have shown locking mechanism for the cover consisting of member 145 arranged` to engage with the pin 146 on the casing, the lock being .provided with thepart 147 extending to the exteriorl of the casing above the cover. Normally, the locking member is maintained by the-spring 148 or equivalent, as shown 'in Fig. 8. f

Arranged within the casing are two guiderolls 150, 150v over which the tape 9 is eX- tended from the spools. As shown in Fig. 8, the tape extends from one spool over the guide roll, andthence'past the feeding-roll` 151, and thence over the other guiding roll to the other spool. Arranged to cooperate with the feeding-roll 151,'which in the preferred construction is knurled or grooved so as to increase the engagement with'the'tape l which may be of paper, linen, or any other suitablev material, are rollers 152, preferably Y r t Fig; 8 that kthe two'frollsf152 so :maintain rrubber faced, whichin the construction shown are .arranged on? shafts' or pins: 153,'tcarried by the vparts 154 and-:mounted on :a 4`bar" k155 r which 4ispreirably resilient. Thisbar fis carried by the sidepieces 160 of the frame.

However', the `bar bef` silyv 'removed when it is'desired Ato-"remove theuolls 1152, `as .these rolls. are preferably of" rubber; and

it is sometimes desirable *to rrenew thesame;

1t will bey particularly {notedby vreferring to the tape on .the 'roll 151 that thesameeover a considerable portionrof'the face of-the roller 151, thereby affording afgoodgripI and a Apositive .and lnoneslipping feeding of= fthe tape. llt-will be noted-also that ifntherewis i a tendency `for the `tape to liftleither 4or .both

lof the rolls 152, =nevertheless, Vthe` traction or engagement ofthe tapeawi'th' the roll-151 is increased, although the area. of contact 'maybe less. Thisis ofgimportance, as should one of the spools drag or tend to operate 'so Y as to increase theftensionjon the tape,ythere will still be `no lslipping of the `tape onV the I have shown indicatingamarls when the tape is traveling inthe direction indicated'by the arrow-thereon, that is,a-lso as indicated by the arrowfmarkeda, the other side 'marked 163 would indicate thepoint of A reading when the .tape z wasv traveling `.in the direction indicated by the rarrow '(-marked- 4b.'

rl`his .permits the same tape to Vbe employed both forfthe trip andreturn. It will be particularly noted that there is displayed a considerable` portion of` the advancing'tape so that-it is possible'for the driver to 'seewhat the road is -to beffor ,ay considerable distance in advance. YJ, l `The operation Vof the "mileomet'erlflnechanismmay be briefly described-.as follows: As

the vehicle Yis in operation,- shaft -7 8 isdriven continuously, as @previously "described, by;

. L means of the armsSO and-Blandintermediate connectingl Vmechanism actuated; from the fshaft 19, `as described. Assuming .that the 501 leved r131 is Vsubstantially in the position indicated in Figi 7,01* that ,is neutralf position,

fandV out` oflengagementwith `the gears .124

and 124, shaft 78 drivesgear .101, which .drives vgear 102, thereby driving tubular shafts 105, gears 112, 1127,-124-.andf1245 However, gear 126..-being out of meshwith `the two gears referredto, there is no driving ofthe feed roll 151.y At thesame time the friction clutch mechanism, including the `resilient 4memberl 113, 'tends' to drive lshafts 107, 107,"but the tape not being fedf by roll -1-51 and the pullbeing orf-each' end of the tape, the spoolslare vnot driven asv the clutch f1members113fslip'ion the jgears.

. Itmay. ibelnextassumed thatf the levervlll is'thrown tothe dotted position indicated by .Fig. `7 ,and Vas-'a' result gearf 126 mesheswith gear 124, consequently gear 126fis fdriven and thereby. drives .gear 130,1actuating the roll 151,.'.c`ai1sing Lthe tapetto be'ffedfas indicated bjyithe arrow?) vin Fig.' 1, as '.well'- as -Figl'r8.. At the'same time thetape 'as it moves is drawn ontothefspoolvll? shownY inFiguS,

.tapetin' the opposite direction, leverf 131 isf moved to the opposite "positionto bring. gear 126 in mesh f with the:fgear :124 so that. roll 151.is thereby rotated .in the opposite direction. However, in' this instance, the opposite spool winds the tapevonyand the other" spool,which1as previously Vdescribed 'is driven through the-clutch mechanism, slips, permit- .ting the funwinding of the tape: therefrom.

Itiwill benoted thatthe tapey may `be eas- =ily manipula-ted andl moved forwarder back -when the"lever.131"is in neutral position, b-y suitably moving thev gear 126 or the. equivalent by theA lingers or -byfsuitable' mechanism "provided for the purpose. This is a desirable feature, as the vta'pe'may be-a'lways easily fshi'fted so'as to bring 4a known? land mark =referred to on lthe tapefat the 'desired point toFbe .displayed when the `machine is at the ,point where said land mark should be indicated. :This is i: particularly convenient in case ofy detours or ythe like. I havetnot considered it necessaryto illustrate yor `describe vthe tape in detail, as any tape orfthe'like iii'ifdicating'chart or map, las itmay rbeterined, may beemp'loyed for the-'purpose L l lltwillfbe particularly inoted that with Construction herein shown;y and described, the rsfpeedometer, odometer and `mi'leometer operfatefin conjunction :or unison.` VV.Consequently .@fthereisfacooperation ofthe Iparts-at :all times,

Vand at all times 'remain accurate. The cali- Y.

bration of the odometer and-'mileometer'may beU forr different sized` wheels, 'for vdifferent `sized-tires, `forfvarious t-ire yinflation pres- 'fsures'," and 1 for different road conditions, .all of said'rca-librations 'or adjustments'rbeing fsmade=withoutjleavingthe seat of the'vehicle."

The `mileometer 'and odometer may abe Vadjusted withoutopening the instrument'fand/in tfbut-an instants time.

i When it isfdesiredgtoichangethe'spools-.and

@replacetletapeycoveri isopenedfand"trame 104, which is hinged at 144, turned outwardly .a single installation onk a vehicle covers speedometer, odometer, mileometer. and clock, the various instruments operating in Vconjunction and permitting a check of one against the other at all times.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications niay be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention;

hence Ido notwish to be understood as limiting myslef to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combinaton of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

lVhat Irclaim as new and` desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f y

1. In a road indicator of the kind described and in combination, a-casing provided with a hinged cover plate and having an opening therethrough for the display of atape arranged within the casing, a frame arranged within the casing and movable in or out of the same as desired, a plurality of spool supports carried by the said frame, a tape, spools arranged on said supportsand carrying said tape, means for yieldingly and continuously urging said spool supports to rotate in opposite directions, means for? detachably maintaining said spools on said supports, means carried by said frame for Vfeeding the .tape through the machine from one. spool to the other, and mechanism `for .driving said-spool supports and feeding mechanism in a desired manner.` f n 2. In a road indicator of the kind described and in combination, a casing provided with a movable cover plate and having an opening `therethrough for the display of a tape arranged within the casing,1a frame arranged within the casing and movable infor out of the same as desired, a plurality of rotatable spoolV supports, spools arranged on said v'supports and carrying said tape, meansfor yieldingly and continuously urging said spool supports `to rotate in opposite directions, means forl maintaining said spools on said supports, means carried byv said frame for feeding the tape through the machine from one spool to VVthe other, mechanism fordriving said spool a supports and feeding mechanism ina desired manner, and means for varying the operation of the said driving mechanism to accelerate or retard'thefeeding Vof the tape 'as desired.

3. In a road indicator of the kind described Y and in combination, a casingfai frame arranged within the casing andmovable in .or

out of the'v same as' desired, a plurality of spool supports, a tape, spools arranged on said supports and carrying saidy tape, means for yieldingly urging said spool supports to rotate in opposite directions to maintain thetape taut, means for securing said spools on said supports, means for4 feeding the tape from eithery spool to the other as desired without interchanging thespools, and adjustable mechanism including means extending to the` exterior of the casing for driving said feeding means in a desired manner.

4. In a route indicator of the kind described, a casing provided with a hinged cover plate with an opening therethrough, a framey arranged within the casing and movable in orout of the saineV when said cover plate .is in open position, a tape carrying mechanism carried by saidframe comprising a plurality of spool supports, spools on said supports, means for yieldingly and continuously tending to rotate said spool supports in opposite directions, a tapev vfeeding mechanism arranged to engage and move the tape whereby the same is transferred from one spool to the other, and means for controlling said feeding means wherebythe said mechanism may be actuated to drive the tape in either direction or be inoperative at will, mechanism for driving said spool supports and feeding mechanism including a main shaft arranged within the casing, gearing carried by said movable frame and arranged to transmit movement from said shaft to said spool supports and mechanism, and means for controlling the operation'of saidshaft whereby the 'tape feeding mechanism may be calibrated to "out of thesame-when said cover plate is in open position, a tape carrying mechanism carried by said frame comprising aiplurality .of spool supports, spools lon said supports,

means for rotating said spool supports, s aid vlast mentioned means continuously urging said spool-supportato rotate in opposite di- Vrections,'-a tape feeding mechanism arranged to engage and move the tape wherebyV the same is transferred from one spool to the other, means for controlling said feeding vmeans whereby the said mechanism may be actuated to v drive the tape at will, mecha- ,nismV Vfor driving said spool supports and feeding mechanism including a 'main shaft arranged `within the casing, gearing carried by said movableframeand arranged to transmit movement from said shaft to said spool supportsand feeding mechanism, and adjustable means for c ontrollingv the actuation of said shaft whereby the tape feeding mechanism may be calibrated to Afeed thetape'at a predetermined speed and accelerate or retard the feeding of the tape.

6.. In a route indicator of the kindde scribed, a casing, a framearranged Within Y the casing and movable in or out of the same, means for securing the frame Within the casing, a tape feeding mechanism carried by said frame comprising a plurality'of spool supports, spools carried thereby, and a tape arrangedon said spools, continuously oper- Y. able means for yieldingly tending to rotate said spool supports in opposite directions, a tape feeding mechanism arranged to engage and move the tape whereby the same is transferred from one spool to the other, means for controlling said feeding means wherebyv the said mechanism may be actuated to drive the tape in a desired direction or be inoperative at will, mechanism for driving said spool supports and feeding mechanism including a main shaft arranged Within the casing, gearing carried by said movable frame and arranged to transmit movement from said shaft to said spool supports and mechanism, means for actuating said shaft, and means for controlling said actuating means Whereby the tape feeding mechanism may be actuated in a manner to feed the tape as desired.

7 In a road indicator of the kind described and in combination, a casing provided With a hinged cover plate having an opening therethrough for the display of a tape arranged Within the casing, a frame arranged Within the casing so as to be movable into `and out of the same, a tape feeding mechanism carried by said frame, a plurality of spool supports also carried by said frame, mechanism d Y for continuously and yieldingly urging said spool supports to rotate in opposite directions and for driving the feeding mechanism in a predetermined manner, and means projecting from the casing lfor controlling the driving mechanism.

In testimony whereof, 'I have hereunto signed my name.

THEoDoRE J, sMULsKI.; 

